Hekinan


Hekinan is a city in Aichi Prefecture, Japan., the city had an estimated population of 72,864 in 29,139 households, and a population density of 1,986 persons per km2. The total area of the city was.

Geography

Hekinan is located in south-central Aichi Prefecture, and is surrounded by Lake Aburagafuchi, the Yahagi River, Kinuura Bay, and Mikawa Bay. Most of the city area lies on reclaimed ground, with an average elevation of under seven meters above sea level.

Climate

The city has a climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and relatively mild winters. The average annual temperature in Hekinan is 15.7 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1609 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 27.6 °C, and lowest in January, at around 4.6 °C.
Gamagōri, Aichi is the closet point that measures climate information.

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Hekinan has been increasing steadily over the past 50 years.

Surrounding municipalities

;Aichi Prefecture

History

Ancient history

The area is part of ancient Mikawa Province.

Early modern period

Under then Edo period, Tokugawa Shogunate, much of what is now Hekinan was part of the holdings of Numazu Domain, with the remainder being tenryō territory under direct control of the shogunate.

Late modern period

Widespread rioting occurred in the area against the new Meiji government and its policy of shinbutsu bunri in 1871.
The area was organized into towns and villages within Hekikai District by the Meiji period establishment of the modern municipalities system in 1889.

Contemporary history

;Showa period
The towns of Ohama, Shinkawa and Tanao, and the village of Asahi merged on April 5, 1948, to form the city of Hekinan As it is located on the southern part of Hekikai District, the city was named Hekinan.
Hekinan was the tenth city founded in Aichi Prefecture. Since it had harbors and rails, the city developed quickly after Pacific War.
On April 1, 1955, one part of the village of Meiji, which is currently called Nishibata, was incorporated into Hekinan.
On September 26, 1959, Typhoon Vera also known as the "Isewan Typhoon" heavily damaged the city.
On July 14, 1974, Rinkai Kōen Pool or also known as Kinuura Mammoth Pool was opened.
Because the city reclaimed the seaside for industrial purposes in 1960's, Hekinan opened this pool for people who complained about losing their beautiful beach.
On May 23, 1988, Hekinan Municipal Hospital was opened.
;Heisei period
In 1993, Hekinan Thermal Power Station was created by Chubu Electric Power on the reclaimed ground.
This provides high tax revenue to the city.
On August 17, 2003, since the facility of the Rinkai Kōen Pool became old and the number of the visitors of the pool was reduced, the city shut down the pool.
Instead, the city created Hekinan Rinkai Park on the same place.

Government

Hekinan has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 22 members, which is considerably higher than other cities of similar size. The city contributes one member to the Aichi Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Aichi District 13 of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

Hekinan is one of the wealthiest cities in Japan. Its financial capability index is 1.70. Automobile-related components, metal, tile, and food processing are the main industries in the city. In 2006 the number of factories was 463 with 16,778 workers. The value of shipments was 84,356,533 million yen in total in 2006. The Hekinan Thermal Power Station is one of largest thermal power plants in the world.

Primary sector of the economy

Agriculture

Even though only 4% of the population of Hekinan engage in agriculture, one-quarter of the area is farmland. The main products are carrots, onions, potatoes and figs. Anjo and Hekinan are the largest producer of figs in Japan.

Secondary sector of the economy

Manufacturing

  • Automobile
In 2010, there were 9,148 people working in this industry, shipping products worth 47,058,959 yen which is more than half of the amount of shipments in the city. Toyota Industries is the biggest company for the industry in the city. There were 1,722 Toyota employees in Hekinan, or about 10% of the total industrial workers in the city in 2010.
  • Ceramic tile
One remarkable industry in the city is related to ceramic roofing tiles. Hekinan is one of the cities that produce Sanshu kawara, a well-known regional brand. In Japan, 58 per cent of tiles, which is about 50,000,000 tiles, are Sanshu kawara.

Education

Hekinan has seven public elementary schools and five public junior high schools operated by the city government, and two public high schools operated by the Aichi Prefectural Board of Education. The prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped.

High schools

Middle schools

Elementary schools

International schools

Transportation

Railway

; Meitetsu
; Kinuura Rinkai Railway

Roads

Prefectural road

  • Aichi Prefectural road 43
  • Aichi Prefectural road 45
  • Aichi Prefectural road 46
  • Aichi Prefectural road 50
  • Aichi Prefectural road 265
  • Aichi Prefectural road 291
  • Aichi Prefectural road 295
  • Aichi Prefectural road 301
  • Aichi Prefectural road 302
  • Aichi Prefectural road 303
  • Aichi Prefectural road 304
  • Aichi Prefectural road 305
  • Aichi Prefectural road 306
  • Aichi Prefectural road 307

Seaways

Seaport

  • Kinuura Bay Port
  • *Ohama Port
  • *Shinkawa Port

Sister cities

Hekinan is twinned with:

Local attractions

Culture

Festivals

Various festivals are held throughout the year in Hekinan.
NameDateLocationDetails
Cherry Blossom FestivalFrom March to AprilOnin-ji, Akashi Park, Nakayamashinmei shrine, Yahagi riverMany events related to cherry blossoms. During nighttime, the trees are illuminated along the Yahagi River.
Shiki Bishamonten Spring FestivalApril 3Myōfuku-ji Pray for your and your family's happiness.
Nishiōninji RennyohiFrom April 19 to 25Ōnin-jiBuddhist event. Tea ceremony and other events held.
Spring Rennyo walkingAprilŌnin-ji"Walk-rally", Haiku contests, etc. are held.
Kōtō Garden Wisteria FestivalFrom April to MayKōtō GardenEnjoy Wistaria. There are a tea ceremony, which costs 500 yen including Japanese snack. During the night time, wistaria is illuminated by paper lanterns.
Shōmyō-ji Tōshō-gū FestivalMay 5Shōmyō-jiA lot of cultural assets, especially assets that related to Tokugawa, are treasured. Tokugawa Ieyasu's ancestor's graves exist in the temple. Variety of the events are held.
Henjō-in Three faces Jikokuten Spring FestivalMay 5Henjō-inPay for success in business, etc.
Hekinan Lake Aburagafuchi Oak FestivalFrom May to JuneLake Aburagafuchi and Ōnin-jiArt contests, Tea ceremony, etc. are held. There are about 3 million oak trees, more than 100 types of oak tree illuminated by paper lanterns at night.
Saigu Jinja Hydrangea FestivalSecond Sunday of JuneSaigu JinjaSelling Hydrangea, Nagashi Sōmen events are held.
Abacus FestivalAugust 8 Shōmyō-jiThanksgiving for old abacus.
Lake Aburagafuchi fishing contestsSecond Sunday of SeptemberLake AburagafuchiFree fishing contest at Lake Aburagafuch
Ōhama Teramachi "Haiking" Third Sunday of OctoberŌhamaHaiku contests. The theme of Haiku is town. Participants walk around Ōhama and writing haiku poetry.
Shiki Bishamonten Fall FestivalNovember 3Myōfuku-ji Pray for your and your family's happiness.
Henjō-in Three faces Daikokuten Fall FestivalNovember 11Henjō-inPay for success in business, etc.

Notable people from Hekinan